Fencing Patch for a Friend

The designer of our club's logo decided he wanted a larger patch for his jacket than our standard size.    He's a tall guy and he can wear a 6 inch tall patch with style.

The logo looks like this :
 
 Pretty cool, huh?  He loves chess, along with fencing.  Some say that fencing is a lot like an active game of chess.  There's strategy involved.  I'd be a much better fencer if I'd become better at thinking on my feet.  Somehow, I can either move or think, but I stop doing one to start doing the other.  LOL!

So I made a quilted patch.  It was a learning process to figure out how to finish the edges.

I ended up cutting away the batting and backing from the edge and wrapping the front fabric around to the back side.  It's hand stitched down, then followed with additional satin stitches around the edge again.

I could have cut the shield's gray larger and wrapped it, but there are gouges in the shield.  I think (if there was a next time, I'd do it this way and use white fabric for the gouges.  It wouldn't show against the white fencing jacket.

Here I am fencing in a local tournament.  I'm wearing the white socks.  I'm very much a beginner and occasional fencer, but it's fun and good exercise and I'd like to get better.

While I was finishing this fencing patch project this morning, I had a few visitors.  Actually, they were way across the field.  I had to use the 12x zoom to capture them.

They loved to munch as the soybeans were growing, but the plants were so tall, I'd miss the deer.  So it's kind of nice that they can glean now and not hide in the tall leaves.

There were 4 this morning.  The 2 leaders are easy to spot and the third is hiding behind the martin house pole.  That last one is grazing in front of the fence with a loop of barbed wire hanging on it.

Racing for cover in the treeline

Our tornado gypsy days are still fresh in my memories.  It was a unique 5 months where we weren't "in control" of our schedules and we were definitely living way outside of our comfort zone.  Taking each day one at a time and dealing with only what was most important that day was such a different approach.   It became important to find beauty and joy in each day ... almost a quest.  There was a sense of comfort and peace, knowing it was temporary and that for each day, we had what we needed.  I asked daily for wisdom as we made so many quick decisions that usually would have required lots of time to consider and for prompting to take care of everyone in our family while our attention was so focused on the construction work. 

With this in mind, my thoughts and prayers are for those affected by Sandy's wind, water and snow, especially for those who have lost loved ones.  They will need comfort in their grief.  I've seen a little footage of the flooding and the wind damage.  It will continue to be an emotional experience for those who are rebuilding.  Lessons will be learned.  Character will be tested and strengthened.  Both heroes and villains will rise.  I pray that a greater dependency on God and a stronger awareness of our need for a Savior is one positive result from this storm's effect on our country. 

- SeeingStars